History of unlawful betting in sports

The USA has a long history of illegal gambling in sports. Gambling scandals and political control have ended in the prohibition and regulation of sports gambling in the USA. Laws that related to sports gambling along with other standards have already been changing and the changes are actually named “Waves”. The first of such waves was in the Colonial Period that lasted up until the 1800s. The second wave came about at the end of the US Civil war up until the early 20th century. The third of such waves started during the Great Depression till date.

Sports gambling has always been illegal in America. Puritan attitudes during the Colonial era were adopted towards sports and also other gambling, possession of cards, gaming tables, dice etc. Later on it was only allowed if it was not a trade but only innocent recreation. Early settlers had the view that gambling was only a harmless hobby. Gambling was likened to the frontier spirit as each of them involved opportunism, risk taking and high expectations.

Illegal sports betting has always been linked to mobsters and organized crime in the US. Illegal sports gambling was a huge business for gang mobsters in the 1920s and 1930s. Organized bookmaking systems were set up by organized crime all over the nation. Horse racing betting became popular during this period.

In 1931 Nevada legalized casino gambling and here too organized crime took control over all the casino betting business. Mobsters controlled illegal nationwide wire services Trans America Wire and Continental Wire Service. Mobsters like the infamous Al Capone put in place their own wire services to prevent gamblers from getting any benefit of delays by making sure they posted winning wagers before formal results were out.

The Federal Government of the US cracked upon mobsters and organized crime over the 1950s and drove them outside the Nevada Casino gambling industry. But this did not dissuade the organized crime mobsters who took over illegal bookmaking. Law Enforcement authorities do acknowledge that independent bookies are functioning within the nation yet it is evident that organized crime still controls all of the big money in betting.

Animal fights furthermore have a long history the United States despite the not so good reputation it has. Most animal fights include dog fights and cock fights that have become popular with street gangs and large numbers of weapons and money usually are present at the time of these fights.

History of illegal gambling in sports reveals that cockfighting was illegal and banned by most states the United States over the 1800s. It is still illegal currently in 48 states. The law in Minnesota makes any king of gambling bet Illegal. Thus any sort of card game where one has to spend to participate in a game and have chances to win cash is a “bet” and thus also thought to be illegal gambling. It is essential to keep in mind that the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 only deals with the funding of internet gambling not the specific act of betting.

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